West Seattle's Chas Redmond, who has built a reputation for community involvement and engagement is running for Seattle City Council, District 1, the new position representing West Seattle and South Park. He has been quietly preparing for the campaign and is now making more public moves. The new district was made possible by election last year with Charter Amendment 19 that established the new city districts.

Redmond, who is the former chair of the City Neighborhood Council, will be available to meet and talk with neighbors in his West Seattle and South Park communities during a series of “Chat with Chas” coffee shop events scheduled throughout the month. Chas has filed his paperwork with the Public Disclosure Commission and the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission to run as a City Council candidate for District 1, to represent West Seattle and South Park.

Redmond said he is "running to bring a neighborhood voice to City Hall to improve all forms of transportation, improve accountability on City projects and to work towards greater equity among and between neighborhoods, particularly with regard to distribution of city assets." The coffee shop events are a chance for him he said to "listen to West Seattle and South Park neighbors and merchants to better represent them as their first district elected council member."

“If elected, I will focus on representing West Seattle and South Park in a City Council that reflects an awakened accountability. Accountability starts with listening, and for eleven years I have listened to neighbors and merchants in my many roles as a community, sustainability, and festival leader. These chats aren’t a one time listening tour – it’s the beginning of a whole new relationship between West Seattle and South Park voters and their own council member.”

The Chat with Chas events are open to any Individuals or groups who would like a chance to sit and talk with Redmond and will take place on:
September 14, Sunday 4 pm to 6 pm - Admiral area at Caffè Fiorè, 2206 California Ave SW;
September 16, Tuesday 5 pm to 7 pm - Westwood Village area at Westwood Village Starbucks, 9023 25th Ave SW;
September 17, Wednesday 11 am to 1 pm - Alki area at Ampersand Coffee Shop, 2726 Alki Ave SW;
September 19, Friday 11 am to 1 pm - Delridge area at Pearls Tea and Coffee Shop, 4800 Delridge Way SW;
September 20, Saturday 11 am to 1 pm - White Center area at 314 Pie, 9602 16th Ave SW;
September 22, Monday 5 pm to 7 pm - Alaska Junction area at Uptown Espresso, 4301 SW Edmunds St;
September 23, Tuesday 11 am to 1 pm - Fauntleroy area at Original Bakery, 9253 45th Ave SW;
September 24, Wednesday 2 pm to 4 pm - South Park area at Via Vadi Coffee, 8600 14th Ave S, South Park;
September 26, Friday 5 pm to 7 pm - Morgan Junction area at Caffe Ladro, 7011 California Ave SW.

In a press release Redmond provided some background information:

"Chas Redmond is a long-time West Seattle transportation, sustainability, parks and civic activist. Redmond is a retired NASA Public Affairs Officer who moved to West Seattle in 2003 and immediately became involved in West Seattle community and transportation activities. Redmond is a three-time Chair of the City Neighborhood Council, a City-chartered citizen engagement organization, one of the founding members of Sustainable West Seattle, former board member and community map and trails collaborator for Feet First, former member of the Camp Long Advisory Council, and the live events and music producer for the Morgan Community Festival, the Alki Art Fair, the Delridge Day Festival and additional festivals throughout Seattle. Redmond has been an advisory council member of Seattle’s Pedestrian Master Plan, Seattle’s Bike Master Plan, Seattle’s Transit Master Plan, and the RapidRide C Advisory Panel. Redmond was also involved as a community member in the West Seattle Triangle Plan."

Those interested in learning more about Chas Redmond and Chas' history of community engagement can visit his website www.westseattle4chas.org or like his FaceBook page www.facebook.com/westseattle4chas.